Erik Paulsen calls on Trump to nominate Minnesotan David Stras to SCOTUS

Stras is on Trump's shortlist

Congressman Erik Paulsen is calling on President Donald Trump to nominate a fellow Minnesotan — David Stras — to the United States Supreme Court, following the announced retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.

“I think the good news now is that there are going to be plenty of candidates that are going to be vetted and brought forward. I think one of them should actually be a Minnesotan, David Stras,” Paulsen said during an interview with the Paul and Jordana show on Wednesday.

Trump included Stras in the shortlist of 25 potential supreme court nominees that he released in November, and on Wednesday, Trump said Kennedy's replacement would come from that same list.

Paulsen noted that Stras has a “Minnesota background” and lives in the area. While Staus grew up in Wichita, Kan, he taught at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2004 to 2010, and was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court by then-Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2004,

Last year, Stras, a longtime member of the conservative Federalist Society, was appointed by Trump to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The confirmation vote split Minnesota's Senate delegation, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar joining a bipartisan 56-42 majority to confirm him, while Senator Tina Smith opposed.